The poverty levels in the 02907 zip code area in Providence are very high when compared to the rest of the state of Rhode Island. The median household income in this area of Providence is only $23,225, which is significantly lower than the Rhode Island median household income which is $42,090. The median family income is also low at only $24,913, which is less then half of the state median family income of $52,781. The per capita income is only $10,806, which is considerably lower than the state per capita income of $21,688. These low incomes reflect both the family and individual poverty levels of this community. 30.7% of families in this area of Providence are below the poverty line, whereas only 8.9% of families in the rest of Rhode Island are affected by poverty. There is also a high level of individuals below the poverty line. 32.6% of individuals in this area of Providence are below the poverty line, compared to only 11.9% of individuals below the poverty line in the rest of the state. There is a 7% increase in the number of children participating in School Breakfast Programs in Providence when compared to the state of Rhode Island. Also, the 10% of children living in families receiving cash assistance in Providence is much higher than the state's total of 4%. Children living in families below the poverty threshold is 28% greater in Providence then it is in Rhode Island. Overall, the income levels in this area of Providence are significantly lower than they are in the rest of the state, which reflects the increasing poverty levels in this community.
Health
Looking at the various indicators of the health level in Providence, I would say that it is not a very healthy community. In Providence, only 30,694 children under the age of 19 are receiving medical assistance, whereas in Rhode Island that number increases to 89,746. That is a difference of almost 60,000 children. In Providence, almost 47 out of every 1,000 girls between the ages 15 and 17 has a teen birth, which is significantly higher than Rhode Island's total of only 19 girls per 1,000 who have had a teen birth. Also, 20.5% of pregnant women are getting delayed prenatal care, which is again much higher than Rhode Island's 14%. The infant mortality rate is Providence is 9.3 of every 1,000 births, whereas Rhode Island has a 6.2 infant mortality rate. 9.4% of the infants born in Providence have a low birth weight, and this number is almost 2% higher than it is in the rest of Rhode Island. There is also a 3% increase in Providence in the number of children who have elevated blood levels when looked at against the state as a whole. Also, almost 6 out of every 1,000 children in Providence are hospitalized due to asthma, which is higher than the 4 children who are hospitalized due to asthma in the rest of Rhode Island.
Family Life
The children in Providence make up a bigger percentage of the population than they do in the rest of the state of Rhode Island. Providence has 45,277 children, which makes up 19% of the total population. The state of Rhode Island has a total of 247,822 children, which makes up only 10% of its entire population. 49% of the children in Providence live in two-parent families, which is a very low percentage when compared to the state's total of 70% of children living in two- parent homes. The remaining 51% of children living in Providence come from single-parent families, which is much higher than the 30% of children living in single-parent families in the remainder of the state. These children are unfortunately more likely to have low academic achievement and are more likely to face poverty as adults. Grandparents can provide support and create family stability for children who have trouble at home, and only 3% of children in Providence live in homes in which their grandparents are financially responsible for them. This is lower than in the state as a whole, where 4% of children have grandparents financially responsible for them. The level of education that parents acquire can greatly affect family life. In Providence, 30% of mothers have less than a high school diploma, and only 21% have a bachelor's degree or above. This compares poorly to the rest of the state, in which only 16% of mothers have less than a high school diploma and 36% have a bachelor's degree of higher.
Very well written, Ruqayya!. Did your poverty conclusions surprise you at all? Can you double check that your data is about one zip code or all of Providence? If you are talking about one zip code, then you should make that clear. Again, nicely done. - fogleman Oct 11, 2010
After I saw your comment I looked back at some of our data tables and I noticed that we must have made a mistake when entering in the data. I adjusted the figures and this changed my conclusion about the poverty levels in our specific zip code. Sorry for the mix up. - relasmar Oct 12, 2010
Ruqayya El-Asmar
Income and Poverty
The poverty levels in the 02907 zip code area in Providence are very high when compared to the rest of the state of Rhode Island. The median household income in this area of Providence is only $23,225, which is significantly lower than the Rhode Island median household income which is $42,090. The median family income is also low at only $24,913, which is less then half of the state median family income of $52,781. The per capita income is only $10,806, which is considerably lower than the state per capita income of $21,688. These low incomes reflect both the family and individual poverty levels of this community. 30.7% of families in this area of Providence are below the poverty line, whereas only 8.9% of families in the rest of Rhode Island are affected by poverty. There is also a high level of individuals below the poverty line. 32.6% of individuals in this area of Providence are below the poverty line, compared to only 11.9% of individuals below the poverty line in the rest of the state. There is a 7% increase in the number of children participating in School Breakfast Programs in Providence when compared to the state of Rhode Island. Also, the 10% of children living in families receiving cash assistance in Providence is much higher than the state's total of 4%. Children living in families below the poverty threshold is 28% greater in Providence then it is in Rhode Island. Overall, the income levels in this area of Providence are significantly lower than they are in the rest of the state, which reflects the increasing poverty levels in this community.
Health
Looking at the various indicators of the health level in Providence, I would say that it is not a very healthy community. In Providence, only 30,694 children under the age of 19 are receiving medical assistance, whereas in Rhode Island that number increases to 89,746. That is a difference of almost 60,000 children. In Providence, almost 47 out of every 1,000 girls between the ages 15 and 17 has a teen birth, which is significantly higher than Rhode Island's total of only 19 girls per 1,000 who have had a teen birth. Also, 20.5% of pregnant women are getting delayed prenatal care, which is again much higher than Rhode Island's 14%. The infant mortality rate is Providence is 9.3 of every 1,000 births, whereas Rhode Island has a 6.2 infant mortality rate. 9.4% of the infants born in Providence have a low birth weight, and this number is almost 2% higher than it is in the rest of Rhode Island. There is also a 3% increase in Providence in the number of children who have elevated blood levels when looked at against the state as a whole. Also, almost 6 out of every 1,000 children in Providence are hospitalized due to asthma, which is higher than the 4 children who are hospitalized due to asthma in the rest of Rhode Island.Family Life
The children in Providence make up a bigger percentage of the population than they do in the rest of the state of Rhode Island. Providence has 45,277 children, which makes up 19% of the total population. The state of Rhode Island has a total of 247,822 children, which makes up only 10% of its entire population. 49% of the children in Providence live in two-parent families, which is a very low percentage when compared to the state's total of 70% of children living in two- parent homes. The remaining 51% of children living in Providence come from single-parent families, which is much higher than the 30% of children living in single-parent families in the remainder of the state. These children are unfortunately more likely to have low academic achievement and are more likely to face poverty as adults. Grandparents can provide support and create family stability for children who have trouble at home, and only 3% of children in Providence live in homes in which their grandparents are financially responsible for them. This is lower than in the state as a whole, where 4% of children have grandparents financially responsible for them. The level of education that parents acquire can greatly affect family life. In Providence, 30% of mothers have less than a high school diploma, and only 21% have a bachelor's degree or above. This compares poorly to the rest of the state, in which only 16% of mothers have less than a high school diploma and 36% have a bachelor's degree of higher.Very well written, Ruqayya!. Did your poverty conclusions surprise you at all? Can you double check that your data is about one zip code or all of Providence? If you are talking about one zip code, then you should make that clear. Again, nicely done. -
After I saw your comment I looked back at some of our data tables and I noticed that we must have made a mistake when entering in the data. I adjusted the figures and this changed my conclusion about the poverty levels in our specific zip code. Sorry for the mix up. -
relasmar Oct 12, 2010